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Helpful Hints and Tips on Maintaining Your Lawnmower

March 2016

If your lawnmower has been stored in your garage or shed over the wet, winter months, now is the time to dust it off and get it ready for the summer. Some will have properly prepared mowers pre-Christmas for storage over the winter and it may simply be a case of starting mowing once the grass has dried out, but for many, it will be necessary to carry out some form of maintenance. Stale fuel, cold weather and environmental elements can cause havoc with petrol powered lawnmowers.

You have two options – you can either arrange maintenance through a company such as Seddons Plant & Engineers Ltd which offers workshop services, or you may be able to carry this out yourself. First of all, carry out a general inspection of your lawnmower, checking all surfaces, ensuring screws are tight and secure and making sure it is clean from any debris. If you didn’t manage to clean your equipment before storing it away, there may be dirt, oil and grass stuck to various places, and certainly to the underside of the cutting deck. Use a damp cloth and possibly a cleaning agent to remove the debris, as a machine that is cleaner will run much better.

Should you need any spare parts, it is best to source these from a reputable and trusted stockist and supplier of genuine replacement parts. At Seddons Plant & Engineers Ltd, we hold over 50,000 lines permanently in stock and same day or next working day delivery is available. Staff are also on hand to provide expert advice on lawnmowing equipment and its subsequent maintenance.

If you haven’t drained the fuel from your mower since last year, it’s crucial that you don’t attempt to start the machine using the old fuel. Over time, petrol deteriorates and it can potentially damage the engine. Make sure you drain the fuel and dry the tank out fully before inserting new fuel. It is advisable to use fresh petrol as opposed to petrol that has been stored for a lengthy period of time in a fuel container, as moisture or water may have seeped into the container.

Similarly, the oil will need changing and you may also need to replace the spark plug. Air filters should be checked and cleaned thoroughly if they are grimy, or possibly even replaced. The engine and equipment will run much better with clean filters.

Lawnmower blades are amongst the most important areas to maintain, as starting off the season with a well-sharpened blade will help the health of your lawn long-term. If your blade isn’t sharp enough, you simply won’t get a clean cut and this can lead to disease setting in. The worst case scenario being that you will need to replant your entire lawn.

It is always advisable to have your blades sharpened before the mowing season starts and if you have a large lawn area, you may need to arrange this 2-3 times a year. If you have the right equipment and expertise, you may be able to sharpen blades yourself, otherwise companies such as Seddons Plant & Engineers Ltd are able to provide a cost-effective blade sharpening service or supply replacement blades.

When you purchase replacement blades, make sure you understand what you are buying and what performance they will offer over time. Some inferior blades are much thinner with a shorter cutting edge. They won’t withstand much sharpening and are liable to get damaged beyond all repair when any stumps or rocks are encountered. Companies such as Seddons Plant & Engineers Ltd will be able to advise which blades are most suitable for your machine and lawn area. Finally, proper lubrication will ensure your equipment will work better and last much longer. Make sure you oil any wheel bearings and other moving parts. Once this essential maintenance work has been carried out, you should be ready to start mowing – or at least when your lawn has sufficiently dried out from wet weather!

Seddons (P & E) Ltd Rugby and Warwickshire covers the following areas:- Rugby and Warwickshire. Honda and Stihl sales, parts, service and repairs are available by visiting our showroom, order by phone for fast delivery or enquire online now.